State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) – Save the Pine Bush

Save the Pine Bush Update and the War on Terror

April 6, 2022 Tom Ellis Comments 0 Comment

by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: Lynne Jackson spoke about current developments in the Pine Bush and Steve Downs about The War on Terror – Twenty Years Later, at the February 23 Save the Pine Bush virtual meeting. After thanking SPB members for their financial contributions to assist one of SPB’s dinner chefs, Adam Baldwin, with his sudden medical bills, Lynne thanked Andy Arthur for creating an on-line “event sweeper” that quickly identifies proposed projects in the pine barrens sections of…

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Altamont Enterprise: Appeal heard in second suit filed against Guilderland, Pyramid

March 25, 2022 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

From the Altamont Enterprise on Thursday, March 24, 2022 – 19:03 GUILDERLAND — A panel of five appellate court judges this week heard arguments in the second lawsuit to land in their laps over Pyramid’s proposed Rapp Road and Western Avenue projects. Save the Pine Bush filed its suit in November 2020 based on the Guilderland Planning Board’s adoption of a findings statement for Pyramid’s proposed 222-unit residential development and Costco Wholesale store in addition to the site-plan approval given…

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Albany Pine Bush Commission, RE: 2772 & 2792 Curry Rd. – Eden Renewables proposed Solar Farm

February 18, 2022 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

September 3, 2019 Mr. Joseph LaCivita, Chair (by e-mail only)Director of Planning & Economic DevelopmentTown of Colonie Public Operations Center347 Old Niskayuna RoadLatham, NY 12110 RE: 2772 & 2792 Curry Rd. – Eden Renewables proposed Solar Farm Dear Director LaCivita, Thank you for requesting Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission (APBPC) review and comment on the above referenced sketch plan. The Albany Pine Bush supports the world’s best remaining example of an inland pitch pine-scrub oak barrens, 78 wildlife Species of…

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SPB Newsletters Listed by Date – 2000s

February 12, 2022 Lewis B. Oliver, Jr., Esq. Comments 0 Comment

2020s 🦋 2010s 🦋 2000s 🦋 1990s Search Newsletter Archives: 2009 🦋 2008 🦋 2007 🦋 2006 🦋 2005 🦋 2004 🦋 2003 🦋 2002 🦋 2001 🦋 2000 2009 October/November 2009 – Download printable PDF version Bringing Back Sustainable Karner Blue Populations, October/November, 2009 September Biogas Talk, October/November, 2009 Buckmoth Monitoring, October/November, 2009 Neither a Borrower or a Lender Be, October/November, 2009 Pesticide Reductions Won at Albany Common Council – We can fight City Hall and Win!, October/November, 2009…

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SPB Newsletters Listed by Date – 2010s

February 12, 2022 Grace Nichols Comments 0 Comment

2020s 🦋 2010s 🦋 2000s 🦋 1990s Search Newsletter Archives: 2019 🦋 2018 🦋 2017 🦋 2016 🦋 2015 🦋 2014 🦋 2013 🦋 2012 🦋 2011 🦋 2010 2019 Newsletter 🦋 December/January 2019-20 Newsletter Download printable PDF version Listen to the Podcasts Merton Simpson — Fighting Environmental Racial Injustice, December/January 2019 Air Pollution in Albany’s South End, December/January 2019 Dunn Landfill — Stinks Up the School; Parents and Residents Protest, December/January 2019 Proposals in the Pine Bush December/January 2019…

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SPB Newsletters Listed by Date – 1990s

February 12, 2022 Lewis B. Oliver, Jr., Esq. Comments 0 Comment

2020s 🦋 2010s 🦋 2000s 🦋 1990s Search Newsletter Archives: 1999 🦋 1998 🦋 1997 🦋 1996 🦋 1995 🦋 1994 1999 December 1999, January 2000 Garbage in the Pine Bush – City Proposes Landfill Expansion SPB Files Most Unpopular Suit Yet – Sues the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission The Thruway Authority Comes Across Royally Thank You to All Who Responded to the Emergency Appeal 1st Annual Pine Bush Walk-a-Thon a Sucess! October/November, 1999 Save the Pine Bush Sues…

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Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic Defends the Pine Bush

September 28, 2021 Grace Nichols Comments 0 Comment

by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: Todd Ommen and Robert O’Connor of the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic (PELC) made a joint zoom presentation at the June 16th Save the Pine Bush dinner. Lynne Jackson hosted the event. Mr. Ommen led off. He is the PELC managing attorney and supervises interns. He began practicing environmental law in 2007, joined PELC in 2016, after prior corporate litigation and a stint with the NY Attorney General. He said there was little environmental law in…

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Proposed Crossgates Development

August 10, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

GUILDERLAND, NY: Rapp Road Development, a corporate entity of Pyramid/Crossgates, is proposing to build on about 46 acres of land. Originally, the proposal was to build 222 apartments on 20 acres of land adjacent to the Pine Bush preserve. After the Town Planning Board appointed themselves the lead agency, the project was exapanded to include a proposed Costco and an undefined commercial/residential development on an additional 26 acres of land. The proposal is huge. To put this proposed development in…

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Rapp Road Costco and Town of Guilderland State Appellate HearingLivestream

May 24, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Dear All, Please note: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 – 1:00pm Rapp Road Costco and Town of Guilderland State Appellate HearingLivestream: http://wowza.nycourts.gov/ad3/ad3.php Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 25, the oral argument for the case of Hart v Town of Guilderland, will be heard. This is the case involving the proposed Costco, apartments and office building in the Pine Bush along Rapp Road. New counsel has been retained by Pyramid Cos. with Guilderland Supervisor Peter Barber representing the Town of Guilderland. The Guilderland Coalition for Responsible Growth has more information…

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Regal Cinemas at Crossgates Will Shade the Karner Blues

April 9, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

GUILDERLAND: Regal Cinemas at Crossgates Maul has requested to increase the height of one theater from about 24 feet to approximately 70 feet above grade. The theater will become a “True Imax” according to their application. Save the Pine Bush sued over the approval of the original theaters in the 1990s. Unfortunately, we lost, and the theaters were built in 1997. The theaters are very close to Butterfly Hill, just the width of a narrow road apart. The theaters cast…

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Save the Pine Bush Loses in Clifton Park

April 7, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

ALBANY: The NYS Appellate Division dismissed Save the Pine Bush case’s case suing the Town of Clifton Park Planning Board over a proposed development on Wood Road that is occupied Karner Blue. The Court said Save the Pine Bush does not have standing or the right to bring the case to court. Save the Pine Bush lawyer, Peter Henner, said of the case: “I am very disappointed by the court’s ruling. Although it has become very difficult for any environmental…

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April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Peter Vallone For Governor – A Superb Environmentalist Peter Vallone For Governor A Superb Environmentalist By Daniel Van Riper It shouldn’t be a secret. Peter Vallone, Democratic candidate for Governor of New York State, has an outstanding environmental record and deserves to be our next Governor. Sure, he’s from downstate, but his vision is clearly statewide. Here are some main points from Mr. Vallone’s 13 page response to the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Political Committee Environmental Questionaire. After he…

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The Albany Pine Bush Management Commission

April 6, 2021 John Wolcott Comments 0 Comment

The Albany Pine Bush Management Commission The Albany Pine Bush Management Commission The Pine Bush Management Commission was created by the New York State Legislature to study and manage the Pine Bush in response to Save the Pine Bush’s lawsuits with the City of Albany over the landfill. Members of the Commission include the executives of the municipalities which include Pine Bush. The City of Albany, the Town of Colonie, the Town of Guilderland, the County of Albany, New York…

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Save the Pine Bush

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Proposed Hotel in the Pine Bush Hotel Update: Oral Arguements in the NY Court of Appeals Tuesday, September 15 at 2:00 The Court of Appeals is next door to Albany City Hall. This is an extremely significant case, and could, if we win change who has standing in SEQRA cases. Click here to read Amicus briefs Read attorney Steve Downs’ commentary about the hotel case here. Action Alert! Hear the Oral Arguments in the NYS Appellate Division Friday,…

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Write to the Town of Guilderland Planning Board

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Name of the project: Rapp Road Residential/Western Avenue Mixed Use Redevelopment Projects Email comments to: Kenneth Kovalchik, Town Planner, Kovalchikk@togny.org The Town of Guilderland Planning Board should reject the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed development by Pyramid (Crossgates) to build massive apartment complexes, office space and expansive retail on Rapp Road, the Mall Road and Western Avenue. This proposed development includes a Costco with 700 car parking lot and a gas station. The Town of Guilderland Planning…

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Pyramid Submits the Draft Environmental Impact Statement

April 6, 2021 Grace Nichols Comments 0 Comment

GUILDERLAND, NY: On Christmas Eve, Pyramid Crossgates submitted the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for their project, “Rapp Road Residential /Western Avenue Mixed Use Redevelopment Projects.” When first brought before the Town of Guilderland Planning Board in late 2018, the project consisted of building 222-unit apartment complex on Rapp Road. The project has morphed into 312-unit apartment complex on Rapp Road, a CostCo complete with a gas station plus other commercial development. According to the NY State Environmental Quality Review…

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Residents Organize!

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Residents Organize! Residents Organize! Citizens and taxpayers of Guilderland are forming a resistance which as of this writing has no name yet. Their first organizational meeting is taking place on Aug. 18th at Guilderland Elementary School. For information on how YOU can lend your skills to beating Pyramid at their own game, contact the following folks: Carl Letson, 869-6817 livingint@juno.com Judy and Roy Bliven, 456-2734 rbb625@worldnet.att.net Ed Dilgen, edilgen1@nycap.rr.com It’s going to take a lot a work, but if we…

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Save the Pine Bush Sues Albany Common Council Over Illegal Office Complex

April 6, 2021 Lewis B. Oliver, Jr., Esq. Comments 0 Comment

Save the Pine Bush Sues Albany Common Council Over Illegal Office Complex Save the Pine Bush Sues Albany Common Council Over Illegal Office Complex by Lynne Jackson Save the Pine Bush filed suit on July 12 in New York State Supreme Court over the City of Albany Common Council’s approval of the Drumlin Fields office complex in the Pine Bush. “The Albany Common Council completely ignored the state-authorized Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission’s recommendation for full protection of this…

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Willow Street Again

April 6, 2021 John Wolcott Comments 0 Comment

Willow Street Again Willow Street Again SPB Sues over Sewers Built in the Preserve DEC Caves in to Developer by Lynne Jackson Ten months after filing a ground-breaking suit that forced a developer to remove water lines from the Preserve along Willow Street in Guilderland, Save the Pine Bush has filed a second suit against the same defendants, this time seeking removal of the sewer lines. Lewis B. Oliver, Jr., attorney extraordinaire for SPB said, “We were successful in…

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April 6, 2021 Lewis B. Oliver, Jr., Esq. Comments 0 Comment

Save the Pine Bush Forces Developer to Remove Water Lines from Pine Bush Preserve Save the Pine Bush Forces Developer to Remove Water Lines from Pine Bush Preserve by Lynne Jackson In a victory for the Pine Bush, the developer of a luxury housing sub-division along the border of Guilderland and Albany has been compelled to remove illegally placed water lines from state-owned Pine Bush Preserve. Lewis B. Oliver, Jr., attorney for Save the Pine Bush, had received notice…

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Developer Takes Preserve to Build Water Lines

April 6, 2021 Lewis B. Oliver, Jr., Esq. Comments 0 Comment

Developer Takes Preserve to Build Water Lines Developer Takes Preserve to Build Water Lines Save the Pine Bush Sues the Albany Pine Bush Management Commission & Others Save the Pine Bush filed suit on December 15 against the Albany Pine Bush Management Commission, the Town of Guilderland, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the City of Albany for allowing a developer to build water lines in the Pine Bush Preserve, land which has been dedicated to the…

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Save the Pine Bush Sues City – Back in Court with Charlie Touhey

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Save the Pine Bush Sues City – Back in Court with Charlie Touhey Save the Pine Bush Sues City Back in Court with Charlie Touhey by Tim Kostoroski Save the Pine Bush filed suit on September 3rd in New York State Supreme Court over the City of Albany Common Council’s approval of the Pine East Office Complex, located at 300 Washington Avenue Extension in the Albany Pine Bush.. This all too familiar development, (135,000 sq. foot complex with 400 car…

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Draft Environmental Impact Statement

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Draft Environmental Impact Statement DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT for Avila House Independent Senior Campus Lead Agency: City of Albany Planning Board 21 Lodge Street, Albany, New York 12207 Contact: Nicholas Dilello (518) 434-2532 ext. 28 Project Sponsor: First Colun1bia, LLC 26 Century Hill Drive Latham, New York 12110-2128, (518) 213-1000 Report Contributors: Hershberg and Hershberg 40 Colvin Avenue Albany, New York 12206 Responsible for "Pine Bush" Contact: Daniel Hershherg (518) 459-3096 Transportation Concepts, LLP 152…

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Save the Pine Bush

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Resting on a leaf, click on photo to see larger picture. So much controversy over such a tiny butterfly-the Karner Blue, Lycaeides melissa samuelis. A beautiful pale blue, this tiny creature only lives in its adult form for one to two weeks. Named by Vladimir Nabokov (probably better known for his writing than his lepidoptery), there were once so many butterflies that all one could see were clouds of blue. Now, only a few hundred survive in the Pine Bush….

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Crossgates Expansion

April 6, 2021 Grace Nichols Comments 0 Comment

Name of the project: Rapp Road Residential/Western Avenue Mixed Use Redevelopment Projects Here is the Draft Environmental Impact Statement website at the Town of Guilderland: https://www.townofguilderland.org/planning-board/pages/environmental-impact-statement-rapp-road-residentialwestern-avenue-mixed-use Save the Pine Bush’s comments on the DEIS Here are Save the Pine Bush’s comments written by Christopher M. Walker, , Legal Intern appearing pursuant to the Practice Order of Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic, Inc. Download all the documents in a zipped file. Save the Pine Bush Comment Appendix A Dr. Stager Appendix B Zamurs…

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Taking Lyme Fight to the Field

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

by William Engleman CLIFTON PARK: Representatives of three area environmental organizations and Town residents called on the Clifton Park Town Board to save the Karner Blue butterfly populations in the Town’s northeast corner, during the Town Board’s first regular meeting of the year, held on Monday evening January 3, 2005. Eight speakers, including representatives from Save the Pine Bush, Audubon Society of the Capital Region and the Hudson-Mohawk Group of the Sierra Club called on the Board to reverse the…

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The Karner Blue vs Crossgates Mall – Secret Meetings and SEQRA Violations

April 6, 2021 Lewis B. Oliver, Jr., Esq. Comments 0 Comment

The Karner Blue vs Crossgates Mall – Secret Meetings and SEQRA Violations The Karner Blue vs Crossgates Mall Secret Meetings and SEQRA Violations by Lynne Jackson Save the Pine Bush is pleased to announce that we joined with our famous Pine Bush resident, the Karner Blue Butterfly, and sued Pyramid Crossgates and the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Guilderland over the theater expansion at the Crossgates Maul. This is the first time we have ever filed a…

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Fire? What Fire? – Pine Bush Better Than Ever

April 6, 2021 Lewis B. Oliver, Jr., Esq. Comments 0 Comment

Fire? What Fire? – Pine Bush Better Than Ever For Immediate Release: July 12, 1999 Save the Pine Bush Sues Albany Common Council Over Illegal Office Complex ALBANY, NY: Save the Pine Bush filed suit today in New York State Supreme Court over the City of Albany Common Council’s approval of the Drumlin Fields office complex in the Pine Bush. “The Albany Common Council completely ignored the state-authorized Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission’s recommendation for full protection of this…

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Touhey Builds While Save the Pine Bush Goes to Court

April 6, 2021 Lewis B. Oliver, Jr., Esq. Comments 0 Comment

Touhey Builds While Save the Pine Bush Goes to Court Touhey Builds While Save the Pine Bush Goes to Court Albany, NY – After twelve years of stopping Charlie Touhey from building the “Pine East” office complex on Washington Avenue Extension in front of the Dunes housing development, Touhey has won the current round and is rapidly bulldozing the Pine Bush and putting up his buildings. Charlie Touhey sought a zoning change from residential to commercial Pine Bush in order…

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Land Crunch in the Pine Bush

April 6, 2021 John Wolcott Comments 0 Comment

Land Crunch in the Pine Bush Land Crunch in the Pine Bush by John Wolcott We’d Rather Have Been Wrong Save the Pine Bush knew that unresolved difference between development desires and acquisition wish lists were heading toward a major clash in the Pine Bush. Even so the present situation of 85 "hot spots" has taken us by surprise in its extent and immediacy. It proves us more right than we thought we were, whereas we’d rather have been wrong…

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Save the Pine Bush Files an Amicus Brief in the Pyramid Lawsuit

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

By Lynne Jackson ALBANY, NY: Todd Ommen from the Pace Environmental Ligation Clinic representing Save the Pine Bush, filed an amicus brief in March in the case known as Thomas Hart, Lisa hart, Kevin Mcdonald, Sarah Mcdonald, 1667 Western Avenue, LLC and Red-Kap Sales, Inc., v. Town of Guilderland, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals of Guilderland, Pyramid Management Group, LLC, Rapp Road Development, LLC and Crossgates Releaseco, LLC (Hart v. Guilderland), Hart v. Guilderland was filed by attorney…

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After 12-Year Battle, the Pine Bush Losses

April 6, 2021 Lewis B. Oliver, Jr., Esq. Comments 0 Comment

ALBANY, NY: On March 22, the Supreme Court — Appellate Division, Third Department turned down Save the Pine BushÕs appeal of Supreme Court Judge Joseph TeresiÕs decision against Save the Pine BushÕs lawsuit over 300 Washington Avenue Extension. The land in question is owned by Charles Touhey, and is located on Washington Avenue Extension in front of the Dunes housing project. Touhey originally proposed building a office complex on the site in 1988. The land was zoned residential, and to…

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We Need the Environmental Access to Justice Act

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

ALBANY: With the loss of the Clifton Park case in the Appellate Division, Save the Pine Bush has had its ability to advocate for preservation of the Karner Blue severely restricted. If the current court rulings regarding standing had been in place in 1978 when Save the Pine Bush began, we never would have been able to get our foot in the court room door, and there would be no Pine Bush left today. What is standing and why is…

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Earth Week Celebration

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

ALBANY: Speakers from Citizens’ Environment Coalition, Environmental Advocates, NYPIRG and Sierra Club came to visit the April Save the Pine Bush vegetarian/vegan lasagna dinner at the First Presbyterian Church to celebrate Earth Week. A lot is going on in the environment, and the speakers gave Save the Pine Bush an update on issues they are working on. Barbara Warren of Citizens’ Environment Coalition (CEC) began by introducing herself as the new executive director. CEC began 24 years ago to work…

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Save the Pine Bush Goes to the Appellate Division Over Butterflies in Clifton Park

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

On February 15, oral argument was held in the appeal by Save the Pine Bush and 11 people who sued the Town of Clifton Park Planning Board in September 2006 after the board gave approval to seven industrial warehouses and hundreds of parking spaces adjacent to and in Karner blue butterfly habitat. The plaintiffs were all denied standing by Acting state Supreme Court Justice, Barry Kramer who granted the Town’s and developer’s motions to dismiss the case in November 2006….

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Court Room Door Slammed Shut on Save the Pine Bush

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

ALBANY: The New York State Court of Appeals has refused to hear Save the Pine Bush’s case regarding the proposed warehouses on Wood Road in Clifton Park. By not hearing our appeal, the Court of Appeals allows the lower court’s decision dismissing our case on standing to be the final ruling in the case, The court room is barred to Save the Pine Bush. We lost on “standing”, meaning Save the Pine Bush has no right to bring a case…

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Save the Pine Bush Sues the Town of Clifton Park over Development Approval

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

SCHENECTADY: On behalf of Save the Pine Bush and 11 individual petitioners, Peter Henner, Esq, filed an Article 78 against the Planning Board of the Town of Clifton Park. On August 8, the Town of Clifton Park approved a “flex-space” industrial warehouse complex on top of Karner Blue habitat. Save the Pine Bush has filed suit to stop the development by requiring a Supplemental Environmental Impact Study to be prepared, thus causing the Planning Board’s State Environmental Quality Review (SEQRA) “Negative…

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Common Council Ignores Pine Bush Preserve Commission

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

ALBANY: In an astounding series of votes, the Albany Common Council voted to allow two developments in the Pine Bush to go forward: the proposed Residence Inn Hotel and an office complex in front of the Daughters of Sarah Nursing Home. Three Common Council members voted against the proposals and for the Pine Bush: the Honorables Dominick Calsolaro, Richard Conti and Shawn Morris. It is clear these votes were hurriedly taken in the last two meetings in December, before the…

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Save the Pine Bush Barred from Court

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

by William Engleman SCHENECTADY: Save the Pine Bush is considering an appeal of a recent State Supreme Court ruling dismissing a lawsuit brought against the Town of Clifton Park Planning Board and DCG Development Co. Save the Pine Bush and 11 citizen-petitioners sued the Town of Clifton Park Planning Board over site plan approvals for a 142,000 square foot flexspace warehouse project on land along Wood Road in the Town’s northeast corner. In dismissing the case, a State Supreme Court…

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Sprawl Costs Money

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

The Schenectady City Council has called for a public hearing on rescinding the 1969 ordinance which established the Woodlawn Preserve on Monday, July 14 at 7:30 at Schenectady City Hall, Jay Street, Schenectady. Members of the public are allowed three minutes each to speak at the public hearing. Speakers are carefully timed by the Council, to ensure that everyone gets their fair chance to speak. City Council members have expressed interest in hearing from residents of Schenectady on this issue….

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Assemblyman John McEneny Speaks about the Landfill

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Albany: At the July Save the Pine Bush dinner, the Honorable John McEneny, Democratic Assemblyman for the 104th District, opened his speech by noting the last time he had spoken at a Save the Pine Bush dinner was a happy occasion to honor SPB member John Wolcott with an resolution from the NYS Assembly for John’s work on the environment and historic preservation. Mr. McEneny came to speak about a serious issue — taking (or alienation) of park land to…

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SPB Needs Your Help to Fight Road

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

SPB Needs Your Help to Fight Road SPB Needs Your Help to Fight Road by Lynne Jackson Last summer, Judge Thomas Keegan handed down a win for Save the Pine Bush overturning a vote by the Common Council to make the "Loop Road" or Columbia Circle Drive a public road. The problem is, the Common Council is going to vote again, perhaps in the next couple of weeks. This road is a disaster for the Pine Bush. The road was…

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Save the Pine Bush

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Download a PDF of this letter Richard Nicholson, Planner City of Albany, Dept. of Economic Development & Neighborhood Planning 21 Lodge Street Albany, NY 12207 Re: Supplemental ~Draft-Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) Tharaidson Development Company Proposed Residence Inn project City of Albany, Albany County Dear Mr. Nicholson: Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) staff reviewed the SDEIS for this project which was accepted by the SEQR Lead Agency on June 16, 2008 and we have the following comments pertaining to that document….

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News from our SCRAP Friends

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

The Appellate Court hearing on the SCRAP (Selkirk, Coeymans, Ravena Against Pollution) members’ case against the City of Albany will be held on September 5, 2007 at 1pm on the fifth floor of the Justice Building at the Empire State Plaza (for directions, email Jim Travers at jatrav@yahoo.com). It is the plaintiffs’ contention that the City of Albany has illegally purchased the Coeymans lands for the proposed landfill because the City ignored State Law and the Rules and Regulations of…

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City of Albany Attempts to Sneak Legislation Past the Public Removing Land from the Pine Bush Preserve

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

ALBANY: The City of Albany tried to sneak in legislation at the last minute that would radically change the protection of the Pine Bush Preserve. The Albany Common Council, in vote of 11-4, asked the NYS Legislature to pass a home rule bill to alienate 12.5 acres of protected Pine Bush Preserve in order for the land to be used to expand the City’s current landfill. Assemblyman John J. McEneny sponsored the bill in the NYS Assembly. Despite the secrecy…

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Forty Acres of Pine Bush Slated for Destruction in the Town of Colonie

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

COLONIE: The Town of Colonie Operations Center was the setting for a public meeting on a proposal to construct a RV (recreational vehicle) storage and washing facility. This proposal would place asphalt or building on top of more than 10 acres of Pine Bush on this approximately 40 acre site, called 106 Cordell Road. Nearby residents packed the Planning Board’s meeting to express their displeasure at the proposal. It was standing room only. The developer, Steven Owen, is proposing to…

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You Can Help Save the Pine Bush in The Town of Colonie

April 6, 2021 Lynne Jackson Comments 0 Comment

Below is a copy of the Final Scoping document for the proposed hotel adjacent to the Karner Blue Butterfly site. For more information about the project, please see the following: Crossgates Wants to Build a Hotel in the Pine Bush, Will they never go away? (Sept/Oct 04) Save the Pine Bush Sues Crossgates Maul and Asks the City to Deny Crossgates Hotel Proposal (Feb/Mar 04) Crossgates Casts a Dark Shadow Over the Pine Bush (Dec 03/Jan 04) CITY OF…

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DEC is Derelict its Duty — Not Requiring Preparation of Environmental Impact Statements

April 6, 2021 Tom Ellis Comments 0 Comment

by Tom Ellis A growing problem in the capital region and probably elsewhere in New York is that large or gigantic proposed projects, many with potentially enormous environmental impacts, are passing thorough the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) regulatory system without environmental impact statements (EIS) being produced, as required under the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) Act. DEC is playing a huge role in this problem. I first noticed it in 2005 when DEC issued a negative declaration allowing…

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Solid Waste Transfer Facility Proposed on the Banks of the Hudson

April 6, 2021 Tom Ellis Comments 0 Comment

by Tom Ellis RENSSELAER: More than fifteen area residents met in early November to discuss the proposed Rensselaer Engineered Fuels (REF) facility that has been proposed for the old BASF industrial site just south of downtown Rensselaer. We exchanged information and developed a plan of action. One, who lives a few blocks from the proposed facility, said he had gone door to door and there is much opposition to the project. This gathering of activists occurred due to concerns about…

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Steve Downs Tells the Legal History of Save the Pine Bush at SPB’s 40th Birthday Party —Part 1

April 5, 2021 Lewis B. Oliver, Jr., Esq. Comments 0 Comment

by Lynne Jackson ALBANY, NY: Lynne Jackson, a volunteer for Save the Pine Bush, gave a brief introduction and described how SPB started. On the night of February 6, 1978, as the “Blizzard of 78” was pounding the Capital District, a couple dozen brave souls nevertheless ventured to the Albany Public Library to speak out at a public hearing on four proposed developments in the Pine Bush. Prior the the hearing, a few people met first at an old fashioned…

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